Cover-Credits:
Team SMG has parted ways with Michael "ninjaboogie" Ross Jr. ahead of the Southeast Asian Dota Pro Circuit (DPC) 2021/22 Tour 3. However, it looks like the two did not part ways in the best of terms, with the player alleging that the team kicked him because it assumed that his mother’s stage 4 cancer diagnosis would affect his performances.
Team SMG has not responded to ninjaboogie’s allegations at the time of writing.
Ninjaboogie’s run with Team SMG comes to an end after 3 months
Team SMG thanked ninjaboogie for his time with the organization and “his enthusiasm, hard work, and dedication” while announcing that it was parting ways with the player. However, it was clear that the split wasn’t amicable with the player asking the organization to reveal the “real reason for the kick”.
Following this the player went to detail the circumstance behind the alleged kick. “Kicked because my mom was on her last days and they assumed it would affect my performance,” said ninjaboogie. “I already knew for some time that this day will come. Since she had stage 4 cancer. She passed away on monday. Imagine being fired from a job because you are about to lose a loved one.”
Ninjaboogie joined Team SMG in February, replacing Roger "Roddgeee" Tan Boon for the SEA DPC 2021/22 Tour 2. With ninjaboogie in its lineup Team SMG could only secure a 9th place finish in BTS Pro Series Season 10: Southeast Asia and a 6th place finish in the upper division of the SEA DPC Tour 2.
Team SMG’s current lineup following ninjaboogie’s removal from the roster is:
Yeik "MidOne" Nai Zheng
Kam "Moon" Boon Seng
Ryan "Raging Potato" Jay Qui
Tue "ah fu" Soon Chuan
Team SMG will receive a 15% DPC points penalty following this roster change and hence only has 43.35 points this season, which puts it well outside the Top 12 teams that will receive a direct invite to The International 11.
